With well over 150 years of combined experience, the staff at Whispering Oaks Lodge is comprised of some of the best in the treatment world. Many on the team have a personal experience with addiction and recovery and are here with evidence-based methodologies to support you or a loved one overcome addiction.
Darren Davis, R. PH.
CEO
Darren Davis, RPh, is a 1989 graduate of University of Louisiana at Monroe School of Pharmacy. Darren worked as a pharmacist for 4 years, and served as the administrator of elite treatment centers for the last 20 years. As a recovering professional himself, Darren shares an interest in the entire recovery process. He feels that focusing on the mental, physical and spiritual aspects of an individual is the key to long-term sobriety. Darren’s vision for Whispering Oaks Lodge is a place where treatment is not dreaded but instead, a place where recovery can be enjoyable and foster the development of confidence in sobriety from the start.
Dwayne Abshire, LAC
Administrator & Clinical Director
As our Administrator and Clinical Director, Dwayne’s 20 years as a Licensed Addiction Counselor along with his Certification in Clinical Supervision will help usher in effective and quality core programming to Whispering Oaks Lodge.
Dr. Cesar Gonzales
Medical Director
Dr. Gonzales is a loving husband and father of 5 beautiful children. He is a native of El Paso, Texas, but has called Northeast Louisiana home for the past 16 years. He is board certified in Family Medicine and Addiction Medicine through the American Board of Family Practice and American Board of Addiction medicine, respectively. He received his medical training at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, TX, and completed his residency at LSU Monroe EA Conway in Family Practice. He then went on to complete formal training in addiction medicine at Northeast Louisiana’s own, Palmetto Addiction Recovery Center.
Dr. Gonzales is personally and professionally committed to the treatment of Chemically Dependent individuals and their families, and he is passionate about seeing his patients recover and live the lives that they deserve, free from the bondage of addiction.
Nadia White, RN, BSN
Director of Nursing
Nadia is a University of Arkansas graduate with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She has extensive experience in Acute Psychiatric and Acute Medical settings, working with individuals through periods in their lives when they were at their most critical exacerbations of physical illness, mental illness, and addiction. Nadia is dedicated to providing quality holistic care through current scientific and evidence-based practices for substance abuse and addiction treatment.
Jessica Casey
Physician Assistant
Jessica is a Physician Assistant with a Master of Health Sciences from the University of South Alabama. She works with the medical director to manage the medical needs of our clients on a daily basis. Jessica also offers our clients psychiatric medication management after completion of their treatment.
Julie Arnn, CAC, EAGALA
Certified Addiction Counselor
Julie earned her B.S. from Fort Hays State University. She is a Certified Addiction Counselor (#3397) licensed by the State of Louisiana Addictive Disorders Regulatory Authority. Julie utilizes Rational Emotive Behavioral and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as well as her experiences in her personal recovery to assist addicts and alcoholics in working towards beginning a lifetime of sobriety. She views each of her clients as valuable individuals and communicates with their families in an effort to educate them on their role in their loved one’s new way of life.
Julie has 30 years of experience working with horses and is certified in equine-assisted psychotherapy through EAGALA. Julie also practices Experiential Therapy which encourages the clients to identify and address hidden or subconscious issues through their interactions with horses.
Kacey Philley, RAC
Certified Addiction Counselor
Kacey earned her bachelor’s degree from Louisiana Tech University in 1994. She is a Registered Addiction Counselor licensed by the State of Louisiana Addictive Disorders Regulatory Authority. Kacey is also trained as a SMART recovery professional helping clients learn the skills needed to live a balanced life free of addiction. Kacey utilizes REBT, CBT and her personal experience in recovery to assist individuals in achieving and maintaining sobriety. She has experience working in Intensive Outpatient and inpatient settings and also working with the recovering individual’s family members – making them aware of available community resources and helping them understand their supporting role in the recovery journey.
Mark Tucker, CAC
Intake Coordinator, Certified Addiction Counselor
Receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in Behavioral Health in 2009 from the University of Louisiana, Mark holds extensive experience working with adolescents and adults with mental health and substance use issues and their families. He has professional skills as a Certified Addiction Counselor, group and individual counseling with both adults and adolescents, worked extensively with family and multi-family groups, program coordination, community outreach and community collaboration. He was the Program Coordinator for Adult Drug Court for the 15th Judicial District and is skilled at working within the adult justice systems. Mark has experience in treating adults and adolescents and has worked extensively in the Intensive Outpatient group setting. His areas of specialty are the group and individual treatment of adults suffering from substance use and co-occurring disorders and family therapy.
Alicia Patout
Intake Coordinator
Alicia is a capable, determined, confident and well organized administrative addition to the Whispering Oaks team. With 11 years of extensive experience supporting mid and senior level managers in the psychiatric substance abuse and mental health industry, she remains an approachable individual with the attitude and willingness required to make a positive impact in people’s lives. Originally from Church Point, Alicia now resides in Youngsville, Louisiana.
Dr. Doug Broome, MDIV, DMIN
Spiritual Counselor
Dr. Doug Broome has joined Whisper Oaks Lodge as our Spiritual Counselor. With over 30 years of pastoral ministry, we look forward to the spiritual growth our patients will experience under Dr. Broome’s guidance. When not at Whispering Oaks Lodge, Dr. Broome serves as Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Natchez, Mississippi. Dr. Broome holds an undergraduate degree from Mississippi College and a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
